Dry cup assembly



Aug.'8, 1950 F. P. PETERS 2,518,363

DRY cup ASSEMBLY Filed March 28, 1946 Iwewf M p m -7- 644/) W PatentedAug. 8, 1950 DRY CUP ASSEMBLY Faith r. Peters, Chicago, 111., assignor aRobert H. Wendt, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,823

10 Claims. (Cl. 65-13) The present invention relates to dry cupassemblies, and is particularly concerned with the provision of animproved device for use with a cup and saucer or the like to maintainthe bottom of the cup dry and to dispose constantly of all spillage ofcoffee or any other beverage, which may find its way into the saucer.

The difficulties of transporting a cup of coffee or some other beveragefrom the kitchen or coffee urn to the point of its consumption are verywell known. Unless the cup is generously filled the patron may feelhimself cheated, and if the cup is filled completely it is practicallyimpossible to carry it to the table or counter without some spillage.

When the saucer has even a small amount of spillage in it, the liftingof the cup will inevitably carry'some of the liquid with it which willgather in droplets on the bottom rim of the cup, dripping on thetablecloth, and in many cases on the clothing of the customer.

The natural impulse of the person serving the coffee or other beverage,if he or she has become conscious of the undesirability of spillage inthe saucer, is to pour out the coffee spillage from the saucer torectify the situation. However, at the place of consumption there is noconvenient receptacle to receive the spillage other than the cup itself.The spillage is generally colder and when returned to thecup will lowerthe tem perature of the coffee in the cup. Also,'many customers have anatural repugnance at having the spilled or wasted coffee poured backinto the cup.

Many ways have been suggested for avoiding the drippage of the coffeewhen the cup is lifted from the wet saucer. One of these ways is toffolda paper: or cloth napkinyplace it in the saucer to absorb the spiltcoffeeand then place the cup ontop of the napkin. This practice isexpensive when cloth napkins are employed, and

ineffective when there is much coffee in the saucer or when papernapkins areemployed.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improveddevice for maintaining the bottom of a coffee cup or the like in a dryand well drained condition,-and for disposing of the spillage of thecoffee in a saucer so that it is no longer visible and so that it isconfined and kept out of contact with the bottom of the coffee cup.

occur from the cup into the saucer and for maipu taining such a positivedrainage condition that there is no possibility of the cup dripping onthe tablecloth or the clothing of the customer when the cup is lifted. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cup andsaucer assembly by means of which the cup may be provided with a liquidtight and air tight closure while it is being transported from the pointwhere the coffee is poured to the point where it is to be consumed sothat the coffee may be kept piping hot, and so that all spilling enroutemaybe avoided.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of an improved step bystep or intermittent suction device by means of which spilt coffee in asaucer may be periodically withdrawn under the device, and confinedbetween the device and the saucer so that for all practical purposes thedevice is adapted to dispose of spillage automatically.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an antislip devicefor use in stacking cups of coffee and other beverages, by means ofwhich a multiplicity of cups may be transported in a stack apart fromthe saucers so that each customer may be given a clean and dry saucerwith his full cup of coffee.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved deviceof the class described, which is simple yet eifective, capable of beingeconomically manufactured; attractive in appearance, and adapted to beused for a long period of time without necessity for repair orreplacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the single sheet of companying this specification,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view in partial section showing a cup andsaucer assembly embodying the invention, the section through the saucerand antispillage device being taken on a plane passing through the axisof the saucer;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cup removed;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the top of the improvedantispillage device; and

Fig. 4. is an elevational view of a stack of cups for maintaining thecoffee hot, and for positively preventing leakage or spillage duringtransportation. I

Referring to Fig. 1, Ill indicates in its entirety t1}? cup and saucerassembly, which includes a drawings acconventional cup H, a conventionalsaucer l2 and my improved antispillage device l3.

While the invention has its widest use in connection with beverages suchas cofiee it may be employed with all kinds of beverages and all kindsof receptacles that are used with saucers or other plates for receivingspillage.

The shape of the cup and the shape of the saucer may" vary greatly, and"those illustrated are merelyconventional"forms employed fordemonstrating the uses of the invention. The beverage receptacle, suchas the cup ll, may be provided with a handle It or may be without ahandle as, for example, a soup bowl. If in the form of a tumbler, it maybe provid'ed with asim ple fiat bottom, but if a cup is employedi'tusually has a slightly concave circular bottom- [5 provided with anannular drainage rib IE, which also serves as a stable base. 7

The saucer 12 may the saucer for a cup or the: saucer for. abowl' abowl; or soup;and its: external shape is or novpazrticular-importance.It is -usuallyprovided with an annular: ridge ll surrounding a circularfiat bottcrm iEBi Theinner surface 19 of the sauceris generallyconcavely they are to be: employedgihmpastel: shadesr being preferredas: aiding. materially to the attractive appearance: of the assembly:Chalk white: or ivory may also?! be employed with white: dishes, and forthe advantage of givingasanitary appear-.- ance under all conditions.

The externaiifinislroi the deviceshouldibe'relw smooth, yetsresiiient.so ithattwhenithe lower edge 2'9? of: the deviceengageszthe: inside ofthe saucer l2? a. substantially tight ioint isprovided, which will;retatrr. liquid. under the device I a due to' the externat air pressureandi to: the fact that if the liquid were to leak outzit would: cause asuction or IUW'PIESSUIEs'lIlSidBTlZhG chamber-2 1 The device ispreferably all made:- of oneintegral piece of material, but the variousparts have" different characteristics depending: upon theirfsizeandshape... 'Ehus: the member Hrie. a generally downwardlyconcavermemberrwhich"can be placed in the inverted position in. a saucerforming chamber" 2.15,; the: size: of which is augmented-by theconc'avity of theztwo members I2 and I3.

The member: includes-an outer thick annular rim portion 22 whic'tiisconcave-1y curved and which has the? lower: curved-edge 2i forengagingthe inside of the .saueerrl' The size of the outer portion 22 ispref'erably-such that the member l3 may be used asr-a cover for-the cupit, and-so that its'edge' 2mengages therinside of. the-- saucer: at apoint spaced" from the outer" edge'2:&of.= thesaucer, still leaving. axdrainage-space ML-betweenathe--niember" l3 and; therout'er edge Of. thesaucer.

The concavity: of: theeouter. portion 22 s preferably such that when.the-device= is-used it raises the. position of the-cup; Lt slightly inthe saucer I'Z-to provide? an ample spillage-space 2.5-, but it does-notelevate the: cup.-much. above the edge of the saucer.

In some embodiments of the-invention, where 1 the use of the member I3asa. cup cover. is. con- Thismay be natural? vulcanized rubber sideredunimportant, the member I3 may be in the shape of an inverted cup withan outer cylindrical wall instead of the concave dished portion 22. Theannular rim portion 22 is made thick enough to be relatively stiff ascompared with the circular movable diaphragm or movable pumping portion25, which is relatively thin, flexible and stretchable.

Theannular rim porti'onZZ terminates and becomes thinner at' a pointindicated by 26 on the inside and 21 on the outside, which is preferablylocated outwardly of the cup base l5, iii of the cup I I so that themaximum to which the cup ll may depress the diaphragm pumping 25 is theposition in which the inner rim 2t, 2? of the relatively stiff portion22 engages the outside of the cup. at 28.

The normal molded position of the diaphragm portion 25 is shown in Fig.2 with the cup removed, and the diaphragm portion inherently springsback to thesposition. of. Fig. 2. when pressure isiremovech from. the:diaphragm- The diaphragm: portion: includes. a; circular flat portion2.5; and a-.. stretchable and tapered: rimwhich joinsthezfiat portion 29to thezstifi annular supporting. body 22.

The fiatidiaphragnr portion 2%: may be provided with; an. air'opening 3iwhicliis closedby a thin flexible flap valve" 312; of the-same materialwhich is integrally vulcanized to; the; diaphragm 25 at 33 along. anarcuate: line spaced. filIQDlltllGfhOlG- 3. t, butextendingsrcfiiciently so=-that ittendsto' hold the flapzSZin apositi'on closing :the:hole-3 t.

The valve. 32" is. adapted to.permit. air to pass out of the hole 32from the chamberrZLbutprevents any air from passingih'itheopposite-direction into. chambers 21.. If: any of the beverage shouldwet thetop. of diaphragmfifij. this will only make theflapvalve-fizmorez effective inpreventing leakage or air into'the' chamber2i".

Some embodiments ofthe: haventibnzmay eliminate the flap valver-322because: it is. not necessary until. thelevel-3 of. the liquid: inthaclosed chamber 2!, below the member kit, has reached. the level oftheedgeZ-ffi Aslong. as'zthe edge 26 is accessible to air oII the lower:side: of; themember t3; the depression of the=diaphragnr.2.5-.willresult in air being driven: out. between. the. edge 29.. and the saucer,and. liquidi2 rv willzbe sucked irr whenever the; diaphragm 25:rises.

The flap valve; 3:1 becomes: necessary when the level of the liquid: inthe closed. chamber 21 reaches the edge: Zilcbecause: atithati level aircan no longer be forced out under the edge 2t to bubbleiupthroughitheliquid Thus; for a limited amount of liquid; the; present?device will operate without a fiap'valve.

As previously stated, the" normal unloaded shape of the diaphragm; 25.is shown in Fig. 2 to which the. diaphragm. immediately springs when acup is removed; Inthis position the top of the device It has perfectdrainage, and all spilled beverage; which may strike it drains intothe-space 24.- in' the; saucerfor spillage. above the member l3; When acup is placed ontop of the diaphragm; 25.- the stretchable. and.flexible annular tapered rim portion 3-0: of the diaphragm bends down ina shape which may be partially U-shape in cross section, as shown inFig. 1.

Any amount of downward movement of the diaphragm 25 diminishes.thesizeof; the chamber 2|, driving air out of the aperture 31- past theflap valve 32. Inaddition to. being. used for sucking the coifeespillage into the space below the diaphragm, the. present; device mayalso be. used for keeping the coffee hot and; for transporting thefilled cups of coffeein stackswithoutispillage.

To keep the coffee hot it is only necessaryto place the member IS on top1the,cup,-,as shown in Figure 4. ,The resilient rubber makes a fairlytight contact with the upper rim of, the cup, keeping the vapors andvsteam in theccup and preventing the loss of heat from the top of thefree surface while the cup is covered. g

A plurality of full cups can be arranged ina stack, as shown in Figure4, and it will be noted that members 13 are then used to cover each cupand to support another cup immediately above each member J3, When sostacked the Weight causes the diaphragm 25 to move downward to theposition of Figure 1, providing a recess into which the lower part ofthe cup fits Without tendency to slide to one side or the other, thusmaking the stack easierto carry.

The rubber engaging the top rim of each cup forms a liquid tight and airtight closure and prevents side slipping of the cups in the stack sothat they may be carried with comparative safety and without losing anycoffee. The coffee is maintained piping hot, its heat andits vaporsbeing confined in the'cup, and the saucers may be carried in a dry andclean condition in the other hand or on the tray with the plurality ofstacks of cups. 7

Each guest may be served a full cup of coffee piping hot in a dry saucerand assuming the coffee will not be spilled by the uest, the user maydispense with its further use on some occasions. However, experiencehasshown that there is spillage of coffee even'after the guest beginswith a dry saucer, and whether the saucer is dry or wet the presentdevice may be used to maintain the cup dry and to dispose of alldrainage appearing in the saucer above the member l3 as follows:

Assuming that the saucer is dry and the "cup is well filled, and thecustomer pours in a generous portion or as much cream as desired whichfills the cup almost to the brim, in stirring there may be some spillageor in placing the wet spoon there may be spillage. ranged as shown inFig. 2 and the cup is placed upon it, the weight of the cup and coffeewill depress the diaphragm 25. This will diminish the volume of thespace 2| between the member [3 and saucer l2. In addition thiswill'compress the air within space 21 and cause flow out through .thehole 3i, the pressure causing. the fiow and lifting the flap valve 32which; will resume its closed position as soon as the pressureinside andoutside have been equalized.

Let us assume that the parts are then in the position of Fig. 1 andthere is a small amount of coffee spillage in the annular space 24. Whenthe cup H is lifted the diaphragm 25 will move from the position of Fig.1 to that of Fig. 2. This will cause a decrease of air pressure in thechamber 2| which cannot be equalized by air passing through the hole 3|because this differential of pressure which is greater on the outsidepresses the flap valve 32 more tightly againstfthe hole 3! to maintainits closure.

-While the contact between the edge 20 of device l3 and saucer I 2 isrubber to glass or porcelain which will prevent liquid from running outunder slight pressures, under a continued pressure, the liquid spillageat 24 will leak under the edge 29 and willbe sucked into the chamber 2i.There it will be retained for the same reason that a glass full of waterwith a lower flat closure can be held in inverted positionwithoutemptying,

If the member is is aras the'external air pressure keeps it from leakingout.

Periodic o intermittent lifting and replacing of the cup Ii will causethe member l3 to suck all of the drainage into the chamber 2|, evenraising the level inside the chamber 2| above the edge of contact 20.

.Thus the cup II is continuously disposed upo a surface that has naturaldrainage and the drainage is continuously sucked into the confined space2| between the member I3. The cup is thus maintained in a dry andnon-dripping condition. Noise is reduced as the cup engages a rubber orresilient surface instead of hard porcelain. The dishes may be carriedaway with the cup empty or partly empty and the spillage still confinedunder the member l3 by stacking assemblies like that of Fig. 1.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved device forcontinuously confining the spillage and for maintaining the bottom of.erously filled and to be closed to prevent spillage or splashing whileit is being carried.

The cups may be carried in stacks with such closure devices aiding inpreventing side slippage and the coffee is maintained in a piping hotcondition by confining its heat and vapors while it is being transportedor until the guest desires to drink it.

The present devices are sanitary and may be sterilized and cleanedreadily as there are no recesses which are apt to catch dirt, and theymay be made to harmonize with the artistic appearance of the dishware.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes Withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. An antidrip device for coffee cups, comprising an inwardly concaveand outwardly convex member of resilient non-metallic material having anannular narrow curved downwardly extending edge to provide a linecontact with a saucer when placed thereon with its concavity downward toform a chamber between the member and the saucer, the said member havinga movable wall and being provided with a resilient flap valve on itsupper side normally closing an opening and permitting expulsion of airfrom said chamber, whereby the member is adapted to suck in past itsedge which engages the saucer, any leakage above the member in thesaucer.

2. An antidrip device for coffee cups, comprising an inwardly concaveand outwardly convex in past its edge which engages the saucer, any

leakage above the member in the saucer, the

said movable wall being centrally located and aidapted to'be; engaged:by the; base. of; the: coffee cup.

. An. antidrip. device for coffee. cups, comprising an inwardly concaveand outwardly convex; member of resilient non-metallic material having:an. annular: narrow curved downwardly extending edge to provide a linecontact-witha saucer when placed thereon with its concavityd'ownwardzto. form a chamber between the members and the saucer, thesaid. member having a -movable wall. and being providedv with aresilient flap valve on: its upper side normally closing an opening and.permitting. expulsion of air from said chamber whereby the member isadapted 'toisnckin past its edge which .engagesthe saucer,

extending edge to provide a line contact with a; saucer when placedthereon with its concavity downwardtoformachamber between the memberand; the saucer, the. said member having a movable walliand beingprovided with a resilient flap valve on its upper side normally closingan opening and permitting expulsion of air from said chamber, wherebythe member is adapted to suck: in past itsledge which engages thesaucer, any-leakage above the member in the saucer, the said movablewall comprising a circular fiat por-- tion surrounded and joined to saidmember by an: annular bendable portion.

5.. antidrip device for coiiee cups, comprdsingran. inwardly concave andoutwardly convex. member of resilient non-metallic material having anouter annular, relatively rigid portion having an annular narrow curveddownwardly extending. edge to provide a line contact with a. saucer.when placed thereon with its concavity downward to form a chamberbetween the membet and the. saucer, the said member having a movable;wall and being provided with a resilient flan valve on its. upper sidenormally closing an opening and permitting expulsion of air from saidchamber,- whereby they member is adapted to. suck: in past its edgewhich engages the saucer, anyleakage above the member in the saucer, thesaid movable wall comprising a circular flat portion surrounded andjoined to. said member by an annular bendable portion, said bendableportion. urging said flat portion of said movable wall upward to effectexternal drainage and to increase volume of chamber beneath said' memberwhen a load is removed from said movable wall.

6. An anti-drip device for cofiee cups, also adapted to be used betweenfilled coffee cups in astack', comprising a dished member of resilientnonmetallic material having a central movable diaphragm portion ofsufficient size to be engaged by and to support the bottom of a cup,when said member is inverted on a saucer, said diaphragm beingsurrounded by an annular sup.- porting body to which the diaphragmisjoined by a: flexible tapered wall normally biased upward and normallyupwardly convex to form a self-draining cup support, said tapered wallbeing adapted to fold backwardly upon itself as the diaphragm is pusheddownwardly by a cup, and returning to upper. position whenthecupisremoved; whereby the anti-drip device may be placed ina saucerto -form a closed chamber between the anti drip. device and the saucer,the placing of acup onthe diaphragm causing the diaphragm to descend;and?- drivingair out of said closed chamber, to bubble through anydrippage-im the saucer, above the anti-drip. device; thediaphragmreturningupward, when the cup is removed, to suck the drippage into saidclosed chamber.

7 A cup and. saucer assembly comprising a sahberja cup and a resilientflexible member interposed between the cup and the saucer andsupporting-- the cup on the saucer, said member comprising an invertedconcave, circular body having a narrow" outer lower edge engaging thesaucer with a-line-contact toform a closed chamher; said memberalsorhaving a central circular diaphragm portion which is normally upwardlyconvex and self=draining, said diaphragm portion being movabledownwardly by the weight. of said cup to reduce the volume of saidchamber, and said diaphragm portion moving upwardly due to its normalresiliency when the. cup is removed, to increase the. volume ofv saidchamber and suck drippings into. said chamber from the. annular space.-in said saucer outside said member, be.- tween the narrow lower edge andthe saucer.

8 A. cup. and. saucer assembly. comprising a saucer, a cup and a.resilient flexible member interposed. between the cup and the. saucerand supporting the. cup. on the saucer, said member comprising aninverted concave, circular body havinga narrow outer lower edge engagingthe saucer witha line contact to form a closed chamber, said member alsohaving a central; circular diaphragm portion. which is normally upwardlyconvexand self-draining, saiddiaphragm portion being movable downwardlyby the weight of said cup to reducethe'volume of' said chamber, and saiddiaphragm portion moving-upwardly due to its normal resiliency when thecup is removed, toincrease; the-volume. of said chamber and suckdrippings into; said chamber from the: annular space in said sauceroutside said member, between the narrow lower edge and the saucer, saiddiaphragm being-joined to said body by a tapered annular flexible wall,the upper part of'said wall moving dbwnward into the lower part of saidwall when the diaphragm moves downward to form a recess for receivingthe'b0tt0m of the cup when the cup is seated on said body.

9. A* cup and saucer assembly comprising a saucer, a cup and a resilientflexible member interposed between the cup and the saucer and supportingthe cup on the saucer, said member comprising an inverted concave,circular body having a narrow outer lower edge engaging the saucer witha. line contact. to form a closed chambenlsaid member also having acentral circular diaphragm portion which is normally upwardly convex andself-draining, said diaphragm portion beingmovable downwardly by the.weight of said cup to reduce the. volume of said chamer, and saiddiaphragm portion movingupwardlydue. to its. normal. resiliency. whenthe cup is removed, to increase the. volume of said chamber and suckdrippings into said chamber from the annular space in said sauceroutside said member, between the narrow lower edge and the saucer, saiddiaphragm having a-centra-lly located resilient flap valve. on its upperside. normally closing an opening, to. permit expulsion of air from.said chamber.- through said. opening when the diaphragm moves downward,but to close said'opening when the diaphragm moves upward.

10. A cup and saucer assembly comprising a saucer, a cup and a resilientflexible member interposed between the cup and the saucer and supportingthe cup on the saucer, said member comprising an inverted concave,circular body having a narrow outer lower edge engaging the saucer witha line contact to form a closed chamber, said member also having acentral circular diaphragm portion which is normally upwardly convex andself -draining, said diaphragm portion being movable downwardly by theweight of said cup to reduce the volume of said chamber, and saiddiaphragm portion moving upwardly due to its normal resiliency when thecup is removed, to increase the volume of said chamber and suckdrippings into said chamber from the annular space in said sauceroutside said member, between the narrow lower edge and the saucer, saiddiaphragm having a plurality of radially extending ribs on its uppersurface to engage the lower supporting rim of said cup and facilitatedrainage from the diaphragm past said rim and to maintain the centralportion of the diaphragm in a plane condition.

' FAITH P. PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 700,653 Jobson May 20, 1902712,095 Reed Oct. 28, 1902 773,879 Major Nov. 1, 1904 799,381 Hope Sept.12, 1905 862,953 Westlake Aug. 13, 1907 1,081,434 Cote Dec. 16, 19131,187,899 Gardam June 20, 1916 1,745,935 Kirmser Feb. 4, 1930 1,862,533Fish, Jr June 14, 1932 1,937,939 Behrens Dec. 5, 1933 2,003,657Stubblefield June 4, 1935 2,041,563 Meinecke May 19, 1936 2,217,514Henry Oct. 8, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number j Country Date 12,488 GreatBritain June 15, 1899 27,962/30 Australia Apr. 13, 1931

